Border Sketches. Suite 2. Birds of Berwick. For clarinet and piano.  

Berwick is full of birds. One of my favourites is the sparrow. I love it when hedgerows are filled with a large gathering of sparrows. They chatter loudly and dart about bushes manically and they are always unpredictable. There is also something rather jolly and happy about their socializing. In Berwick, the locals call them ‘spuggies' which seems to capture their character. When I composed ‘Spuggies’ I had the intention of putting the music to a video of busy spuggies. 

 

Border Sketches 

Border Sketches is a collection of suites inspired by the beauty and history of Northumbria. What today comprises North England and South East Scotland, (the Borders') in ancient times was The Kingdom of Northumbria.

The first suite, Paxton House, was composed in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic. During the various restrictions imposed in 2020, I was able to organise small groups that could perform outside.  We performed in Paxton House on August 7th 2020. The size of the group was limited, we had to be outside and socially distanced. What strange days! However, it was a beautiful day and Paxton looked glorious!

Birds of Berwick

This is the second suite of Borders Sketches. It was composed in 2021 for clarinet and piano. Berwick is full of birds including blackbirds, sparrows, seagulls, oystercatchers, cormorants and gannets. Until recently we even had a parakeet. However, one of my favourite birds, especially in spring, is sparrows.  In Berwick. ‘sparrows’ are known affectionately as ‘spuggies.’

Coastal Dispositions

The third suite was composed in 2021. It is scored for solo French horn and an ensemble of horns. I felt the horn, with its extensive tonal range was best capable of capturing the sea in all its moods. 

 

The Arabella. A Concerto for Trumpet (B flat) and Concert Band 

I started the Arabella in late 2022, however, it was a bad year and it lay ‘on the shelf’ for some 12 months. I restarted the piece in November 2023 it was completed on January 1st, 2024. Of course, I say finished as there is always something you can find to change. The work is in sonata form and starts with an introduction, ‘Baroque’ (or maybe Classical) in atmosphere. The second subject is in the minor key. Next, there is a shift to the major key and a jaunty, new theme, a codetta, is introduced which leads into the repeat of the exposition.  This new section makes a break from the earlier style and is a little tongue-in-cheek. 

The development progresses through a string of key changes and directly into the jaunty section, which I find exciting. The recapitulation leads to the second subject and then uses the codetta material to reach a rousing climax. 

The movement contains themes which appear contradictory but I feel the balance is good and that the piece ‘works.’

The Arabella is dedicated to Jeremy Brown, who lives in Tweedmouth. Berwick upon Tweed.

Movement two is now in progress.